The problem I know happens when you try (as you kinda did) to "arouse an eager want" in someone is that you have to be careful. Yes, there's almost always something someone "wants," in your example it's upvotes, but depending on how you go about it you could be seen as appealing to their selfishness.

If you do it wrong or go too far then some people may feel like you're teasing them into being greedy. I say this because I notice it with salespeople a lot, they always tend to try and entice people by convincing them they want more than they need.

If you do it right it can be a good sales technique or a good way to appeal to people. But I always believe it should be more a thing where you convince them that helping you will help them.

Like in the example u/keesouth gave where they ask for information by explaining how giving the information will help everyone.

I know this may seem confusing, sometimes it is. I may not be fully explaining what I mean here. But I can only speak from my experience. I have read that book and I recommend it to people often. Just keep in mind that by saying "Influence" it also means "Manipulate" and not everyone likes to feel manipulated.

The book is very different than the movie. The filmmakers said they only used a few basic ideas from the book for the movie.

I always enjoy the movie for it's satire. It was very well done as a "spoof" of the system it portrays.

The book is slower-paced and while it appears to promote the system it describes I'm not sure it does a great job. The ideas are presented well but to me it comes off sluggish and too wordy. The action of the movie has a lot more life to it than the book.

But, if you're just reading "for interest" then go for it. Just don't expect to make a direct comparison between the two.